Challenge: 50 Books discussion

After a depressingly few number of books read in 2013, looking forward to a good reading year in 2014....so many great books on my to-read that I need to make time for!

Good luck! You can totally crush last year's number!

Tiffany wrote: "Good luck! You can totally crush last year's number!"

Thanks, Tiffany! 12 days into January and I'm at least on the board :)

1. Never Fade by Alexandra Bracken

Excellent first read of the year. I had been trying to avoid series recently, especially YA series, because I found myself feeling obligated to see them through to the end, wasting precious reading time even though many were mediocre at best. I'm glad I decided to keep reading this one. Dark and well-written.

2. How to Lead a Life of Crime by Kirsten Miller

Another YA read, this one a stand alone. Interesting, scarily believable premise. 4.5 stars.

3. Requiem by Lauren Oliver

Unsatisfying resolution to this trilogy.

Oh, it's always so extremely disappointing when you stick with a series of books and the ending isn't good. After investing so much time to the same story line and characters.

4. Lexicon by Max Barry

5. The Madman's Daughter by Megan Shepherd

6. The Passage by Justin Cronin

7. Brave New Worlds by John Joseph Adams

Collection of short stories.
Favorites:
-Red Card
-Billenium
-Of a Sweet Slow Dance in the Wake of Temporary Dogs
-Just Do It

Least Favorites:
-The Pearl Diver
-The Lunatics
-Arties Aren't Stupid
-Jordan's Waterhammer

8. Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith

Interesting and unique writing style, just not sure if I really cared for it. 3 stars.

9. 14 by Peter Clines

10. Fiend by Peter Stenson

I was ready to give this book an average rating 3 stars, thinking it was nothing that great, but I can't stop thinking about it. The main character telling the story of his dad and a hockey game on page 241 was especially soul crushing. I guess my only big complaint was the love interest's ghetto fabulous, gangsta language. Annoying and not how I envisioned the character. Interesting read.

11. Momofuku Milk Bar by Christina Tosi

This is my second time reading this cookbook and once again it inspired tremendous feelings of ambition and creativity and an expensive trip to the grocery store to stock up on ingredients and supplies. After which I whipped up a single batch of cookie dough, ate most of it from the freezer before baking the cookies off, and have yet to tackle any of the other recipes I was so excited about. On a positive note, the cookie dough was delicious.

12. Prefabulous: The House of Your Dreams Delivered Fresh from the Factory by Sheri Koones

This book was informative, but I wish it would have given some idea of pricing. Yes, I know it varies greatly depending on where in the country you are, but it seems to me that all of the homes featured were way out of the price range of the average person. Does that mean middle class Americans who want to try this type of home building would be stuck with the stereotypical pre-fab homes that look like trailers? Also, I find it helpful when the dimensions of the rooms are listed on the floor plans. The overall square footage for each home was available, but it is sometimes difficult to envision the project when there are limited photos and no measurements given.

13. The Museum of Extraordinary Things by Alice Hoffman

14. The Intern's Handbook: A Thriller by Shane Kuhn

15. The Kill Switch by James Rollins

16. The Secret History by Donna Tartt

17. The Magician's Land by Lev Grossman

Sad to see this series end. I highly recommend this trilogy.

18. Robogenesis by Daniel H. Wilson

19. Doomed by Chuck Palahniuk

20. The Supernatural Enhancements by Edgar Cantero

21. Close Your Eyes, Hold Hands Chris Bohjalian

22. Every Day by David Levithan